Lamb of God singer Randy Blythe indicted on manslaughter charges

Lamb of God performed in November at the Sherman Theater in Stroudsburg, Pa. Lead singer Randy Blythe, pictured in the front wearing sunglasses, has been indicted on manslaughter charges in the Czech Republic. Courtesy Photo

Randy Blythe, lead singer for Richmond, Va.-based heavy metal band Lamb of God, has been indicted on manslaughter charges in the Czech Republic, the band's management reports.

The prosecutor for the case in the Czech Republic indicted Blythe on manslaughter charges with intent to do bodily harm after a three-month investigation. Blythe was detained in June in Prague, but then released back to the United States to await news of further prosecution.

The detainment came a year after a fan died of injuries following a Lamb of God concert. It is alleged that Blythe pushed the fan off the stage. Previous reports from Lamb of God management indicate the fan had attempted to jump stage barriers three times during the performance.

Lamb of God manager Larry Mazer issued an official statement Monday evening saying Blythe still plans to fight the charges. Mazer says that while it is a tragedy that a Lamb of God fan died, in no way does he feel Blythe did anything improper that led to the young man's death.

He pointed to the need for bands to be cautious about their own safety while on stage and the need to protect themselves from fans who attempt to become part of the show. He cites the murder of Dimebag Darryl Abbott as a reason for bands to be on the defensive.

"It definitely makes you think about how incredibly lucky we are to have had the success that we have," he said. "There was a time when Randy was incarcerated when we weren't sure whether we had played our last show."

If convicted, Blythe faces up to 10 years in prison, according to CBS News.